Corruption During The Mexican Revolution 

Josefina Niggli works in the book “Mexican Village” and Jose Antonio Villarreal works in the book “Pocho” respectively tellingly demonstrates a picture of rural Mexico during the Great Mexican revolution. In Mexican Village, Niggli presents an image of the town of Hidalgo during and after the Great Mexican insurrection. Herein, Niggli attempts to revealingly illustrate the precise social, economic, and political arrangement of the inhabitants of Hidalgo. Precisely, Niggli tries to show the lives of the people of Hidalgo during and after the Great Revolt together with their struggles as they strive to make a living. In Villareal’s short story Pocho explains the nature of administration in the city of Ciudad Juarez after the revolution in which the natives had gained independence from Spanish colonialists. In Pocho Villarreal shows a city, Ciudad Juárez, filled with tension between the inhabitants and Spaniards and other forms of vices. In his research titled Mexico’s Revolution 1910-1920, Easterling shows some of the facts of rural Mexico during the Great Rebellion. In his work, Easterling revealing identifies the facts underpinning the Mexican insurgency including its causes and results, and how rural Mexico was affected in the occurrence of the Great Uprising. Easterling extensively explains the facts about corruption in rural Mexico in the context of the Mexican revolution. In Mexican Village and Pocho both authors make appearances on corruption and it also compares and contrast depiction of Mexico in both stories during the Mexican Revolution.

First, in the book Mexican Village, Niggli represents a rural Mexican from a variety of perspectives. Through his depiction of the small town of Hidalgo, a few things can be surmised about the town and its respective inhabitants during and after the Mexican Revolution. For instance, it can be concluded that during the revolution there was so much torture for people irrespective of their nationalities. The commentary “El Rubio captured Hidalgo and started hanging people”(Niggli 571), including the Italian foreman at the Quarry is the ultimate justification of the brutality and hostility the people of Hidalgo suffered during the Great Mexican revolt. But also, Niggli represents a peaceful and growing town with hardworking natives after the revolution Also, again, Niggli shows a town with a defined political, social, and economic structure and agenda after the insurgency. Politically, the mayor monitors the town ensure that things are run in order, appropriately and accordingly. Socially, the town of Hidalgo is divided along with social classes, regardless the organization and arrangement of the natives, as seen at the Quarry, apparently reveals a society built on a strong social interaction . From an economic perspective, there is business thriving in the town which is depicted from the mining activities and the growing bar business. It is from this economic outlook, and through one of the personas, the Mayor, that the theme of corruption pops in. The Mayor’s (Don Nacho) statement to Bob: “That Porfirio, the carver of wood, watch out for him. If he can get a peso from you for doing nothing; he will do it” means that not everyone in the town is honest (Niggli 576). Giving in to this assertion/advice, it seems like corruption is deep-rooted in Hidalgo that even the authorities are aware of. Further analysis of Mexican Village shows a patriarchal and gender biased society. In brief, Niggli attempts to show a rural Mexico in a variety of perspectives from social, economic, and political variables.

Next, on the other side, Villareal’s representation of rural Mexico is a corrupt state filled with discrimination, immorality, and brutality. Pocho also depicts a male-controlled society. In the book, there is a lot of hostility revealed especially against foreigners in the City of Ciudad Juarez . Juan Manuel Rubio, an army veteran, deliberately murders a Spaniard over a girl because he is an immigrant . Through Rubio, it is made clear that during the uprising brutality and discrimination along racial lines was the order of the day to drive foreigners from the city of Ciudad Juarez. Discrimination is further noticeable when the General says to Rubio that he can not rid of the Spaniard from this world . Apart from hostility and discrimination, immorality as Villareal shows was deep-rooted in rural Mexico. It is because of an insignificant confrontation over a whore that Rubio kills the Spaniard. Another instance that identifies Juan city as an immoral is when the general tells Rubio that he could have gone straight to him if he needed a woman. In this outlook, it appears that rural Mexico was filled with irrational behaviors such as whoring. Still, on Pocho, Villareal demonstrates a city permeated with corruption. Tellingly, the vice is seemingly entrenched not only among the public but also amid the authorities. While the new administration and laws of Ciudad City condemn murder and arrests and charges and or convicts perpetrators, the General sets Rubio scot free irrespective of him murdering the Spaniard. The conspiracy to smuggle Rubio out of Ciudad Juarez to evade his crime shows that the General is a dishonest individual. He is, in fact, a corrupt official, and this is justified when he tells Rubio “Tonight I must secret you across the border. I have a bite on a gringo cattleman and will give you a letter for him” (Villareal 721). Symbolically, the bite means bribe. Juan’s assertion “Are there no honest people left” shows the severity the corruption vice is. Juan even says: “Being the kind of people they are; they will undoubtedly corrupt someone near the Villa with money and promises, or both to betray the president” (Villareal 721). Bestowing to these assertions, it is apparent that rural Mexico was pervaded corruption and bribery with even government officials playing a part in such fraudulent and dishonest activities instead of helping put an end to them.

Correspondingly, Easterling in his research Mexico’s Revolution 1910-1920 identifies the issue of corruption. Further, he surmises a few facts on the social, economic and political arrangement of rural Mexico in the context of the Great Mexican revolt. About corruption, Easterling opines that corruption was entrenched particularly amid government officials. In his research, Easterling maintains that graft in Porfirian Mexico was massive and innate. Easterling further identifies that insignificant conflicts and fights were the order of the day. In his research, Easterling argues that the primary problem with the Porfirian Mexico was that people were difficult to change with times. Political power was abused with dictatorship forms of administration both at the national and state or town levels. Also, in the research, Easterling reveals that people were divided along with social classes based on wealth and education.

From the above analysis, Niggli’s depiction of rural Mexico is similar and dissimilar to Villareal’s representation. Regarding similarities, both the authors depict rural Mexico as a corrupt society filled with bribery, dishonesty, and other forms of fraudulent activities. In addition, their works represent a patriarchal Mexican society. Also, there is a similarity in economic variables such as business. There are however contrasts in social arrangements and on matters of morals. While Niggli’s illustrations show an ethically upright society, Villareal’s representation presents an immoral society characterized by heinous practices such as prostitution. The depictions of rural Mexico as presented in the Mexican Village and Pocho aligns with the facts in Easterling’s research. For instance, they agree with Easterling’s argument that rural Mexico was pervaded with corruption, bribery, and dishonesty especially among the authorities. They also agree with Easterling that rural Mexico experienced economic growth with businesses sprouting and expanding across the country. While Niggli and Villareal show a patriarchal agrarian Mexican society, Easterling does not mention a male-controlled Mexican community. Also, while Villareal recognizes the element of discrimination, Niggli and Easterling do not identify any form of prejudice. But suggestively, Niggli demonstrates a community defined by gender roles.

In conclusion, Niggli and Villareal describe a rural Mexican society with similar and dissimilar variables both socially, politically, and economically. Some of these depictions overlap with Easterling’s research on rural Mexico in the context of the Great Mexican revolt. There are similarities in the factors of corruption, administration, and economic growth. But also, there are differences in social arrangements, social practices, morals, and the controversial aspect of gender equity.

Works Cited

Easterling, Stuart. “Mexico’S Revolution 1910- 1920”. International Socialist Review, no. 74, https://isreview.org/issue/74/mexicos-revolution-1910-1920

Niggli, Josefina “Mexican Village” The Norton Anthology of Latino Literature, edited Ilan Stavans, Norton & Company Inc., 2011, pp 565-582

Villarreal Antonio Jose “Pocho” The Norton Anthology of Latino Literature, edited Ilan Stavans, Norton & Company Inc., 2011, pp 711-732